Apparatus and method for controlling a screen display in portable terminal

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for controlling a screen display in a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a display unit, an input unit, a memory unit, a magnification identifying unit, and a controller. The display unit displays a screen display having a controlled magnification level. The input unit sets a zoom-in or zoom-out point on the screen display. The memory unit stores reference information for determining a zoom-in or zoom-out magnification level of the screen display. The magnification identifying unit measures a tilt of the portable terminal, and determines control or non-control of a magnification level of the screen display using the measured tilt. The controller controls the screen display according to the identified magnification level.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application is related to and claims priority under 35U.S.C. §119(a) to a Korean patent application filed in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office on Dec. 29, 2010 and assigned Serial No.10-2010-0137448, the contents of which are herein incorporated byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable terminals, and moreparticularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling a screendisplay magnification of a portable terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of portable terminals has expanded due largely in part to theirconvenience. Thus, service providers (i.e., system manufacturers) haveresponded by developing portable terminals having convenient functions.

For example, certain portable terminals now provide functions, such asphone books, games, schedulers, Short Message Services (SMSs),Multimedia Message Services (MMS), Broadcast Message Services (BMSs),Internet services, electronic mail (e-mail) messages, morning wakeupcalls, MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3), digital cameras, and the like.

Portable terminals have also been developed to include touch screenpanels that provide a means of inputting information. Portable terminalsequipped with touch screen panels as the input means may also includefunctions for controlling the display of the screen, such as zooming inor zooming out the display of the screen. In some cases, this may beprovided using a multi-touch function.

The method for using the multi touch function includes recognizing twopoints touched by user's two fingers and, according to a distance changebetween the two touch points, zooming in or out a screen display. Thatis, the multi touch function performs screen zoom-in and out accordingto a distance change between two fingers touching a screen, so a userhas to repeat several times an operation of touching the screen with thefingers, zooming in or out the screen up to a desired level, andseparating the fingers from the screen. Repeating the above operationrequires a plurality of times of user's input for screen zoom-in andout, and in certain cases, cause undue strain on the surface of thetouch screen panel.

Also, a problem may occur where, in certain cases where the userperforms the screen zoom-in and out using the multi touch method, theuser is inhibited from performing a screen scroll operation at the sametime of an operation for zoom-in/out.

Accordingly, there is a need for a screen zoom-in and out function forsolving the problem of the multi touch method in a portable terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is aprimary object to provide at least the advantages below. Accordingly,one aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for improving a screen-display magnification control performanceof a portable terminal.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for controlling a magnification of a screen display using a tiltin a portable terminal.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for improving a selectivity of a link item included in a screendisplay in a portable terminal.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatusand method for zooming in and displaying a link item and receiving aselection of the link item in a portable terminal.

Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatusand method for determining zoom-in or a zoom-out of a link itemdependent on a screen display magnification in a portable terminal.

The above aspects are achieved by providing an apparatus and method forcontrolling a screen display in a portable terminal.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus forcontrolling a screen display in a portable terminal is provided. Theapparatus includes a display unit, an input unit, a memory unit, amagnification identifying unit, and a controller. The display unitdisplays a screen display having a controlled magnification level. Theinput unit sets a zoom-in or zoom-out point on the screen display. Thememory unit stores reference information for determining a zoom-in orzoom-out magnification level of the screen display. The magnificationidentifying unit measures a tilt of the portable terminal, anddetermines control or non-control of a magnification level of the screendisplay using the measured tilt. The controller controls the screendisplay according to the magnification level identified by themagnification identifying unit.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method forcontrolling a screen display in a portable terminal is provided. Themethod includes setting a zoom-in or zoom-out point in the screendisplay, measuring a tilt of the portable terminal, determining controlor non-control of a magnification level of the screen display and adisplay for the magnification level using the measured tilt of theportable terminal. The method further includes controlling the screendisplay according to the determined display magnification level, anddisplaying the screen display at the controlled magnification level.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, itmay be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and“comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion withoutlimitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases“associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivativesthereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with,contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, becommunicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximateto, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout thispatent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understandthat in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, aswell as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example portable terminal for adjusting amagnification of a screen display using tilting according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example process for controlling a magnification ofa screen display using a portable terminal according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an example process for controlling amagnification of a screen display according to user's tilting in aportable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example process of link selection of a portableterminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a screen of setting a reference pointin a portable terminal according to a desirable exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5B illustrates an example screen for displaying a zoom gauge in aportable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5C illustrates an example screen for zooming in a screen displayusing a tilt in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5D illustrates an example screen for zooming out a screen displayusing a tilt in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6A illustrates an example screen for sensing a link item selectionin a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6B illustrates an example screen for zooming in a link itemexisting around a user's touch input in a portable terminal according toan embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6C illustrates an example screen for displaying the detailedcontents of a link item selected by a user in a portable terminalaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 through 6C, discussed below, and the various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingdescription, well-known functions or constructions are not described indetail since they would unnecessarily obscure the detail of theinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example portable terminal for adjusting amagnification of a screen display using tilting according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the portable terminal includes a controller 100, amagnification identifying unit 102, a memory unit 104, an input unit106, a display unit 108, and a communication unit 110.

The controller 100 of the portable terminal controls general operationof the portable terminal. For instance, the controller 100 performsprocessing and control for voice calls and data communication of theportable terminal. Further, the controller 100 uses screen displayzoom-in/out using tilting of a portable terminal according to thepresent invention. In certain embodiments, this may provide a solutionto a problem of screen display zoom-in/out when used in conjunctionusing an existing multi finger touch.

That is, the controller 100 measures a tilt of a portable terminal andidentifies if the extent of the measured tilt is a tilt for screendisplay zoom-in or a tilt for screen display zoom-out. Further, thecontroller 100 identifies a zoom-in or zoom-out magnification using themeasured tilt.

At this time, the controller 100 may display a zoom gauge for indicatingthe zoom-in or zoom-out magnification identified through the tilt todisplay a changed screen magnification. If the magnification of thescreen display is determined, the controller 100 makes the displayedzoom gauge disappear. Due to this, a user of the portable terminal canrecognize that the screen magnification indicated before the zoom gaugedisappears is set as a magnification of a screen display.

The magnification identifying unit 102 may include a sensing unit formeasuring a tilt of the portable terminal under control of thecontroller 100, and can determine the tilt of the portable terminalusing sensing information acquired through the sensing unit. After that,the magnification identifying unit 102 can identify a magnification of ascreen display to be changed using the determined tilt.

The memory unit 104 includes any suitable type of volatile ornon-volatile storage, such as a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random AccessMemory (RAM), and a flash ROM. The memory stores instructions of aprogram for processing and controlling the controller 100 and themagnification identifying unit 104. In some cases, the memory may storea variety of reference data.

The RAM, a working memory of the controller 100, stores temporary datagenerated in execution of a variety of programs. The flash ROM stores adiversity of updateable data such as a phone book, an incoming/outgoingmessage, meta data, and a data storage database, and stores referenceinformation for determining a zoom-in or zoom-out magnification level ofthe screen display according to the present invention.

The input unit 106 may include numeric key buttons ‘0’ to ‘9’, a menubutton, a cancel button, an OK button, a talk button, an end button, anInternet button, navigation key (or direction key) buttons, and aplurality of function keys such as a character input key. The input unit106 provides key input data corresponding to a key pressed by a user tothe controller 100. Also, the input unit 106 provides the controller 100with a user's input setting a zoom-in or zoom-out point in the screendisplay according to the present invention.

The display unit 108 displays information generated during operation ofthe portable terminal, such as characters, moving pictures, stillpictures, and the like and may also display a screen having anadjustable magnification level according to the present invention. Thedisplay unit 108 can be a color Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), an ActiveMatrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED), and the like. In aparticular embodiment in which the display unit 108 includes a touchinput device, the display unit 108 can be used as an input device.

The communication unit 110 transmits and receives wireless signalsmodulated with data input/output through an antenna (not illustrated).For example, in a transmission mode, the communication unit 110processes data through channel coding and spreading, converts the datainto a Radio Frequency (RF) signal, and transmits the RF signal. In areception mode, the communication unit 110 converts received RF signalsinto baseband signals by processing the baseband signal throughde-spreading and channel decoding to restore the baseband data.

A role of the magnification identifying unit 102 can be implemented bythe controller 100 of the portable terminal. Although these elements areshown separately in the present embodiment for convenience ofdescription, other embodiments may be implemented without limiting thescope of the present invention. It should be understood by those skilledin the art that various modifications can be made within the scope ofthe present invention. For example, the controller 100 may be used toprocess all elements shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example process of controlling a magnification ofa screen display using a portable terminal according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, in step 201, a user of a portable terminal executesan application supporting a zoom-in or zoom-out function. Here, theapplication supporting the zoom-in or zoom-out function can be any type,such as an Internet browser, an electronic book (e-book) viewer, animage viewer, and the like.

In step 204, the user of the portable terminal identifies whether toperform a function of zooming in or zooming out the screen display.

If determining not to perform the function of zooming in or zooming outthe screen display in step 203, processing reverts back to step 201.

Alternatively, if the user decides to perform the function of zooming inor zooming out the screen display in step 203, the user sets a referencepoint using a touch input at step 205. Here, the reference pointrepresents an initial point from which a zoom in or zoom out level isperformed. On a basis of the reference point (i.e., a point where auser's touch input occurs), the portable terminal processes to zoom inor out a predetermined region of the screen display.

In step 207, the user of the portable terminal tilts the terminal in apredefined direction and performs the zoom-in or zoom-out function. Thatis, the portable terminal can control a magnification level of a screendisplay according to the extent and direction of user's tilting of theportable device.

Next, the algorithm as shown in FIG. 2 is completed.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an example process for controlling amagnification of a screen display according to a tilting action of aportable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, in step 301, the portable terminalexecutes an application supporting a zoom-in or zoom-out function. Here,the application supporting the zoom-in or zoom-out function can be anysuitable type, such as an Internet browser, an e-book viewer, an imageviewer, an electronic newspaper viewer, and the like.

In step 303, the portable terminal determines whether a touch input forsetting a reference point is sensed. This touch input generally refersto a reference point from which the screen display may be zoomed in orzoomed out.

If the touch input is not sensed in step 303, processing reverts back tostep 301.

Alternatively, if the touch input is sensed in step 303, the portableterminal displays a zoom gauge on the screen display in step 305. Here,the zoom gauge may include a gauge for indicating a magnification of ascreen display. As the zoom gauge increases, the screen display may bedisplayed at a higher level of magnification and, as the zoom gaugedecreases, the screen display may be displayed at a reducedmagnification. In this manner, the user of the portable terminal cancontrol the displayed zoom gauge to control the magnification of thescreen display.

In step 307, the portable terminal measures a tilt of a present state ofthe portable terminal. This may indicate a reference value of the tiltof the portable terminal for control of a magnification of a screendisplay.

In step 309, the portable terminal determines if any subsequent tiltingaction is sensed in addition to the tilt sensed in step 307.

If an additional tilt is sensed in step 309, the portable terminalidentifies a screen display zoom-in amplification dependent on themeasured tilt in step 311.

In step 313, the portable terminal zooms in to a reference pointperiphery at the magnification identified in step 309. In step 315, theportable terminal changes a previously displayed zoom gauge according tothe zoom-in magnification identified in step 309. In this manner, theportable terminal may display a current zoom-in magnification level ofthe screen display using the zoom gauge.

Alternatively, if the portable terminal identifies a tilting actionindicating the use intends to zoom out the screen display in step 309,the portable terminal identifies a screen display zoom-out amplificationdependent on the measured tilt in step 317.

In step 319, the portable terminal zooms out the reference pointperiphery at the identified magnification. In step 321, the portableterminal changes a previously displayed zoom gauge according to thezoom-out magnification. That is, the portable terminal shows a presentzoom-out magnification of the screen display using the changed zoomlevel identified in step 317. At this time, a numerical value (i.e., amagnification level) of the zoom gauge changes according to a tiltchange is displayed until the tilt of the terminal is fixed.

In certain embodiments, the portable terminal can arrange and storezoom-in and out magnification levels dependent on user's tilting asshown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Terminal operation Change of tilt Change of tilt mode of X axisOperation of Y axis Operation Horizontal + (increase) Zoom-in +(increase) No operation mode − (decrease) Zoom-out − (decrease) Nooperation Vertical + (increase) No operation + (increase) Zoom-in mode −(decrease) No operation − (decrease) Zoom-out

The portable terminal may distinguish tilt information for changing amagnification of a screen display according to a terminal operationmode. That is, the portable terminal operating in a horizontal mode candetermine a tilt action using X-axis sensing information and thencontrol the magnification of the screen display, and the portableterminal operating in a vertical mode can determine a tilt action usingY-axis sensing information and then control the magnification of thescreen display. Also, an increased change could represent that theportable terminal is tilted toward a user.

After changing the zoom gauge according to the zoom-in or zoom-outmagnification as described above, the portable terminal identifies if atilt change measurement for the terminal is ended in step 323. That is,the portable terminal identifies if a sensed tilt action indicates thata magnification of a present screen display is suitable and finishes aprocess of tilting of the terminal. For example, the adjustment of themagnification level may be finished if the portable terminal senses thatthe tilt action does not change over a specified period of time.

Alternatively, if the portable terminal identifies the sensed tiltchange measurement for the terminal is not ended in step 323, theportable terminal continues processing at step 307 to provide furtheradjustment of the magnification level.

That is, if the tilt change measurement for the terminal is ended instep 323, i.e., if the tilt is fixed, the portable terminal stopsdisplaying the zoom gauge in step 325. In certain embodiments where thetilt change is not measured during a predetermined time in a tiltdependent magnification control process, the portable terminal makes apreviously displayed zoom gauge disappear.

In step 327, the portable terminal uses a present magnification level asa magnification of a screen display. At this point the process as shownin FIGS. 3A and 3B ends.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example process of link selection in a portableterminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the link selection process refers to a process ofreceiving a selection of a link included in a screen display of theportable terminal, from a user.

In step 401, the portable terminal executes an application supporting azoom-in or out function. Here, the application supporting the zoom-in orout function can include an Internet browser, an e-book viewer, an imageviewer, an electronic newspaper viewer, and the like. At this time, theportable terminal may display a page including a plurality of links. Thelink may be any suitable type, such as, for example, a hypertext link ora hyperlink.

In step 403, the portable terminal identifies whether a touch input fora link item is sensed.

If the portable terminal does not sense a touch input for a link item,processing reverts back to step 401.

Alternatively, if a touch input for a link item is identified in step403, the portable terminal identifies if a plurality of link items existat least proximate a position of the touch input in step 405. This mayindicate, for example, if a situation occurs in which a user of theportable terminal inaccurately selects a link item included in a rangeof a restricted size. In this manner, the portable terminal candetermine that the user's touch input may be inaccurate if multiple linkitems exist.

If the portable terminal identifies that only one link item existsproximate the position of the touch input in step 405, the portableterminal continues processing at step 411 and performs an operation forthe link item selected by the user. For example, the portable terminalcan display a page linked with a corresponding link, as the operationfor the link item.

Alternatively, if the portable terminal identifies that the multiplelink items exist proximate the position of the touch input in step 405,the portable terminal identifies if it receives a selection of a linkitem in a zoom screen state at step 407. That is, the portable terminalidentifies whether a situation occurs in which the user of the portableterminal inaccurately selects a link item included in a range of arestricted size, in a similar manner to step 405.

If the portable terminal identifies that a situation occurs in which theuser selects a link item in a non-zoom screen state in step 407, theportable terminal zooms in at the position of the touch input at aspecified magnification and displays a previously displayed link item.

In step 415, the portable terminal senses a touch input for a link itemselection and then, continues processing at step 411 as described above.That is, the portable terminal again senses a touch input for a user'sselection using an increased magnification.

Alternatively, if the portable terminal identifies that a situationoccurs in which the user selects the link item in the zoom screen statein step 407, the portable terminal continues processing at step 409 inwhich it identifies if the selected link item is in a zoom screen stateof more than a specified threshold. At this time, the portable terminalcan distinguish magnifications between a minimum zoom magnification anda maximum zoom magnification from multiple levels and, on a basis of azoom screen state of more than a predetermined level, the portableterminal can determine if a user accurately selects a link item. For oneexample, the portable terminal can distinguish zoom magnifications as inTable 2 below, and detect the accuracy of link item selection.

TABLE 2 Magnifications Levels Comparison 0.4 to 1.0 Level one Abnormalselection possible 1.0 to 2.0 Level two Abnormal selection possible 2.0to 3.0 Level three Normal selection possible 3.0 to 4.0 Level fourNormal selection possible

Here, the portable terminal controls a magnification of a screen displaybetween a minimum magnification ‘0.4’ to a maximum magnification ‘4.0’.It has been determined that user's link item selection at a three-levelmagnification or more can be relatively accurate.

If the portable terminal identifies that a touch input provided by auser inaccurately selects a link item in step 409, for example, if theportable terminal identifies that the user selects the link item in azoom screen state of less than a predetermined level, the portableterminal continue processing at step 413 and zooms in a positionproximate a touch input at a specified magnification and a previouslydisplayed link item and then the portable terminal continues processingat step 415 and again sense a touch input for a link item selection.

Alternatively, if the portable terminal identifies that a userinaccurately selects a link item in step 409, for example, the userselects the link item in a zoom screen state of more than a specifiedlevel, the portable terminal determines that user's link item selectionis accurate and then performs an operation for the link item selected bythe user at step 411.

At this point, the process as shown in FIG. 4 is completed.

FIGS. 5A through 5D illustrate example screens for controlling amagnification of a screen display in a portable terminal according anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example screen for setting a reference point in aportable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the portable terminal 500 executes an applicationsupporting a function of zooming in or out a screen display, such as anInternet browser, an e-book viewer, an image viewer, and an electronicnewspaper viewer and then, displays the contents 501 corresponding tothe application. According to this, a user of the portable terminal forcontrolling a magnification of the screen display sets a reference point503 corresponding to a magnification control point using a touch inputaction.

FIG. 5B illustrates an example screen for displaying a zoom gauge in aportable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5B, when a reference point is set by a user as shownin FIG. 5A, the portable terminal displays a zoom gauge 505 forindicating a zoom-in/out magnification level. At this time, the zoomgauge indicates a magnification level simultaneously as a user controlsa magnification of a screen display. The user of the portable terminalcan control the zoom gauge to adjust the magnification level of thescreen display.

FIG. 5C illustrates an example screen for zooming in a screen displayusing a tilt in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 5C, a user of the portable terminal can control amagnification of a screen display through tilting of a portable terminalaccording to the present invention.

At this time, if the portable terminal is in a horizontal mode, theportable terminal identifies a change of X-axis orientation anddetermines whether to zoom in or out the screen display.

That is, if the user pulls an upper side of a portable terminal in ahorizontal mode toward himself/herself, the portable terminal willidentify a change of X-axis orientation and, according to the changedorientation, the portable terminal can zoom in the screen display 507.Due to this magnification, the portable terminal may display less thanthe contents as displayed in the screen of FIG. 5A while zooming in anddisplaying the contents of a reference point periphery according to theextent of the change of the orientation, for example, according to theextent of tilting, and changes a magnification level 504 of a previouslydisplayed zoom gauge according to a zoom-in magnification.

FIG. 5D illustrate an example screen for zooming out a screen displayusing a tilt in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 5D, a user of the portable terminal can control amagnification of a screen display through tilting of the portableterminal according to the present invention. As the portable terminal isin a horizontal mode, the portable terminal identifies a change ofX-axis orientation and determines whether to zoom in or out the screendisplay. If the portable terminal is in a vertical mode, the portableterminal can identify a change of Y-axis orientation to control amagnification of the screen display.

That is, if the user pushes out an upper side of the portable terminalof the horizontal mode from himself/herself, the portable terminal willidentify a change of X-axis orientation and, according to the changedorientation, the portable terminal can zoom out the screen display 511.Due to this, the portable terminal displays more content than what isdisplay on the screen of FIG. 5A while zooming out and displaying thecontents of the reference point periphery according to the extent of thechange of the sensing information, for example, according to the extentof tilting. Also, after zooming out the screen display, the portableterminal changes a magnification level 513 of a previously displayedzoom gauge according to a zoom-out magnification.

The zoom gauge changed according to the tilt of the terminal asillustrated in FIGS. 5A through 5D disappears when a tilt change of theterminal is less than a specified threshold. The portable terminal canset a magnification level before the zoom gauge disappears, as amagnification of a screen display.

FIGS. 6A through 6C illustrate multiple screens for controlling aselection of a link item in a portable terminal according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example screen for sensing link item selection ina portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the portable terminal executes an applicationsupporting a function of zooming in or out a screen display, such as anInternet browser, an e-book viewer, an image viewer, and an electronicnewspaper viewer. The portable terminal may then display the contentsaccording to execution of the application. If the executed applicationis an electronic newspaper viewer, the portable terminal 600 displaysmultiple link items and then, provides detailed news on an item selectedby a user.

Accordingly, as illustrated, a user of the portable terminal will selecta link item 601 about concerned news among the displayed link items.

FIG. 6B illustrates an example screen for zooming in a link itemexisting around a user's touch input in a portable terminal according toan embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6B, in a case where a user selects a link itemincluded in a screen display as shown in FIG. 6A, it can occur that,because a space between link items is narrow, he/she may fail toaccurately select the desired link item that the user intends to selectbecause spacing between the multiple link items is narrow relative tothe size of the user's finger.

Certain embodiment of the portable terminal may determine thatinaccurate link item selection occurs in the following circumstances.

Firs, in a case where a space between link items is narrow, the portableterminal determines that the inaccurate link item selection has occurredby determining that the screen display is not zoomed in.

Second, the screen display can be a state in which is sufficientlyzoomed in to accurately distinguish link items.

Accordingly, in a case where the portable terminal identifies that theinaccurate link item selection occurs, the portable terminal zooms inand displays a region 603 of a predefined range on a basis of aperiphery of a link item selected by a user and again performs a processof link item selection by the user.

That is, as illustrated, the portable terminal zooms in to include onlysome of the link items illustrated in FIG. 6A, improving the accuracy ofuser's selection.

FIG. 6C illustrates an example screen for displaying the detailedcontents of a link item selected by a user in a portable terminalaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6C, certain embodiments of the portable terminal canimprove the accuracy of a link item selection process through anoperation as shown in FIG. 6B.

By allowing a user to reselect an desired link item among the zoomed-inlink items of FIG. 6B, the portable terminal can display the detailedcontents of the selected link item as illustrated. The drawingillustrates displaying a title 605 of the link item selected by the userand an article 607 related to the title 605 together on the screendisplay.

Due to this, in a case where the user of the portable terminalerroneously selects a link item, the portable terminal can search thecontents of a link item more conveniently than what is provided by aconventional method of performing a process of again selecting a normallink item after performing a cancel process.

As described above, the present invention relating to an apparatus andmethod for controlling a screen display in a portable terminal, controlsa magnification level of a screen display by tilting a portableterminal. Additionally, the portable terminal may zoom in and display alink item according to the screen display magnification level, thusimproving the control performance of the magnification of the screendisplay and improving a selectivity of the link item in certainembodiments.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for controlling a screen display, the apparatus comprising: a screen configured to display content and to display a zoom gauge that indicates a zoom level of the content; a sensor configured to measure a tilt change of the apparatus; and a controller configured to: receive a touch input to initiate a zoom operation and to set a reference point about which zooming in or out is to be centered; and adjust the zoom gauge and cause the screen to zoom-in on the content or to zoom-out from the content with respect to the center of the reference point, according to the measured tilt change, wherein when an upper side of the apparatus is tilted toward a user, the magnification the zooming in is increased.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to sense a zoom-in point and a zoom-out point, and display the zoom gauge that indicates the zoom level of the screen.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to cause the displayed zoom gauge to disappear from the screen if there is no change of the tilt change of the apparatus within a specified period of time.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to set the zoom level of the screen simultaneously with a change of the zoom gauge.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to change a level of the zoom gauge, upon controlling the screen to be displayed at the zoom level dependent according to the tilt change of the apparatus.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a sensing unit configured to measure the tilt change of the apparatus.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the tilt change using an X-axis orientation in a horizontal mode, and determine the tilt change using a Y-axis orientation in a vertical mode.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to, in a case of sensing a selection of a link item in the screen comprising a plurality of link items, zoom in a periphery of the link item.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensor is configured to zoom in the periphery of the selected link item according to the zoom level on the screen.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper side of the portable terminal is tilted away from the user, the zoom level is decreased.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the portable terminal is in the horizontal mode.
 12. A method for controlling a screen display in a portable terminal, the method comprising: displaying content and a zoom gauge that indicates a zoom level of the content on the screen; receiving a touch input to initiate a zoom operation and to set a reference point about which zooming in or out is to be centered; measuring a tilt change of the portable terminal; and adjusting the zoom gauge, and zooming in on the content or zooming out from the content with respect to the center of the reference point, according to the measured tilt change, wherein when an upper side of the portable terminal is tilted toward a user, the zooming in is increased.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying the zoom gauge for indicating a current zoom level of the screen.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising disappearing the displayed zoom gauge if there is no tilt change measured within a predetermined period of time.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising setting the zoom level of the screen concurrently with a change in the zoom gauge.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising changing a level of the zoom gauge upon controlling the zoom level on the screen.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein measuring the tilt change of the portable terminal comprises measuring the tilt change of the portable terminal using a sensing unit configured in the portable device.
 18. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining the tilt change using an X-axis orientation when operating in a horizontal mode, and using a Y-axis orientation when operating in a vertical mode.
 19. The method of claim 12, further comprising zooming in a periphery of the link item when a selection of a link item in the screen comprises a plurality of link items.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein zooming in the periphery of the link item further comprises: identifying the zoom level of the screen; and zooming in the periphery of the selected link item according to the identified zoom level. 